Articles tagged with "wind-farm"
Under 6,000-year-old ditch, elusive medieval erdstall tunnel found
Archaeologists in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, uncovered a medieval erdstall tunnel beneath a Neolithic ditch while preparing a site for wind farm construction. Erdstall tunnels are narrow underground passageways widespread across Central Europe, dating from the 10th to 13th centuries, yet their purpose remains unclear. This newly found tunnel, about 3.28 feet tall and 19.7 to 27.6 inches wide, contained minimal artifacts—a horseshoe, animal bones, and signs of a low-intensity fire—and was deliberately blocked at the entrance, adding to the mystery surrounding these structures. Erdstalls are typically small, complex tunnels with connected levels, narrow crawl spaces called “Schlupf,” and are often located near churches, cemeteries, or remote areas. Archaeologists speculate they may have served as secret hideouts, sites for cultic or initiation rituals, or spiritual retreats, possibly linked to medieval perceptions of ancient pagan sites. Despite thousands of such tunnels
energywind-farmarchaeologymedieval-tunnelsunderground-structuresexcavationcultural-heritageJudge Smacks Down One Offshore Wind Stop-Work Order
On December 22, 2023, President Donald Trump ordered a halt to work on five major offshore wind projects along the U.S. Atlantic Coast, citing a newly uncovered national security threat. This abrupt stop affected hundreds of workers and disrupted construction across multiple states. However, on January 12, 2024, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction allowing work to resume on the Revolution Wind project in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Judge Lamberth, appointed by President Reagan and known for his strict adherence to legal ethics, had previously blocked a similar stop-work order in August 2023, rejecting the Interior Department’s vague national security claims. The article suggests that the Trump administration’s stop-work order was politically motivated, possibly intended to distract from the release of sensitive Jeffrey Epstein-related documents. The Department of the Interior’s sudden national security justification lacked transparency and failed to notify state governors in advance. Judge Lamberth’s ruling indicates judicial skepticism toward the administration’s
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energywind-farmUS-energy-policyclean-energyenergy-infrastructureLove the Smell of Wind in the Morning - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the growing impact of wind energy in Australia, particularly during early morning hours when solar power is minimal. South Australia leads the nation with over 90% of its power coming from wind at dawn, followed by Victoria at about 50%, with notable contributions from Western Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania. New South Wales, however, is lagging behind in wind energy adoption. Despite varying government policies across states, wind power is clearly expanding, with significant projects underway. Key developments include Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy raising over AU$1 billion to expand the Clarke Creek Wind Farm in Queensland, which will become one of Australia’s largest wind generation sites with a capacity exceeding 1 GW after its second stage. This project alone is expected to power over 700,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 738,000 tonnes annually. In Victoria, a farmer-driven wind farm initiative led by Virya Energy plans to install 164 turbines, offering substantial community benefits such as direct payments
energywind-energyrenewable-energywind-farmgreen-energyAustralia-energysustainable-energyGiant CVOW Offshore Wind Farm At Risk If Dem Wins Gov Race
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, a massive 2.6-gigawatt offshore wind farm developed by Dominion Energy, has been progressing steadily since its lease was issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in 2013. The project has benefited from advancements in offshore turbine technology and the recent availability of specialized US-built service operations vessels (SOVs), which comply with the Jones Act—a 1920s maritime law restricting foreign-built ships from transporting goods between US ports. Notably, Dominion’s US-built offshore wind ship, Charybdis, launched in 2024 and is now operational in Virginia, poised to accelerate the CVOW’s completion targeted for 2026. Despite strong bipartisan support for CVOW in Virginia, including from Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin and US Representative Jen Kiggans, the project’s future may be uncertain due to the upcoming gubernatorial election. While Youngkin has been a vocal advocate, his term limit and the
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energywind-farmDominion-Energymaritime-lawservice-operations-vesselWind Farm on a Sacred Philippine Mountain Sparks Controversy - CleanTechnica
The proposed Banahaw Wind Power Project in Quezon Province, Philippines, spearheaded by GIGAWIND4, Inc. (a subsidiary of ACEN Corp. under the Ayala Group), aims to build a 247-megawatt wind farm costing approximately P34.5 billion ($59.3 million). This initiative is part of the Philippines’ broader strategy to increase renewable energy to 35% by 2030, promising grid stability and economic benefits to local communities. However, the project has sparked significant controversy due to its location near Mount Banahaw, a sacred mountain and protected landscape under the Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape Act (Republic Act No. 9847). The mountain holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for indigenous and religious groups and serves as a vital watershed for the region. Opposition, led by groups like the Save Bundok Banahaw Network (SBBN) and environmental organizations such as Tanggol Kalikasan,
energyrenewable-energywind-farmenvironmental-justicecultural-preservationPhilippinesclean-energyGiant 1.5 Gigawatt Wind Farm Planned for France — Its Biggest Clean Energy Project Yet - CleanTechnica
TotalEnergies and RWE have been selected to develop Centre Manche 2 (AO8), the largest offshore wind farm in France with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts. Located over 40 km off the Normandy coast, the project is expected to generate about 6 terawatt-hours annually, supplying green electricity to more than one million French households. The electricity will be sold at a competitive price of €66 per megawatt-hour. TotalEnergies will operate the wind farm, leveraging its offshore wind expertise, with a final investment decision anticipated by early 2029 and electricity production starting in 2033, aligned with grid connection schedules. The €4.5 billion project will create up to 2,500 jobs during its three-year construction phase and invites local residents and authorities to invest. Environmentally, TotalEnergies plans to allocate €45 million to mitigate the project’s impacts and €15 million to a biodiversity fund in Normandy. The company also commits to exemplary recycling
energyrenewable-energywind-farmoffshore-windclean-energyTotalEnergiesFrance-energy-projectPlot Thickens Around Offshore Wind Stop-Work Order
The article discusses the unexpected stop-work order issued by the Trump administration on the Revolution Wind offshore wind project, which was already 80% complete. The order, issued by Matthew Giacona, Acting Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), cited vague national security concerns related to the protection of U.S. interests and prevention of interference with maritime zones. This move has raised questions because the project site was designated for offshore wind development by BOEM as far back as 2013, following extensive assessments of environmental, national security, and other competing interests. The sudden emergence of these concerns has sparked speculation about their true nature and timing. The article also highlights the political context, noting that the stop-work order targets projects in Democratic-governed states like Rhode Island and Connecticut, while a similar project in Virginia, which hosts the largest naval base in the world and is supported by a Republican governor, has not faced such scrutiny. This has led to suspicions of political motivations behind the decision
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energywind-farmenergy-infrastructurenational-securityclean-energyChina: 'World’s first' robot dog–patrolled wind farm runs human-free
China has launched what is believed to be the world’s first fully autonomous wind farm, the 70-megawatt Ningxia Tongli Third Wind Farm, which has operated without any onsite human workers since September 2024. The facility, built by China Three Gorges and equipped with Goldwind turbines, uses an integrated system of four-legged inspection robots called X30 “robot dogs” from DEEP Robotics, drones, and over 5,000 sensors to monitor turbine conditions in real time. These robots can operate in extreme temperatures (–20 °C to 55 °C), climb stairs, and navigate in darkness, enabling continuous inspection and fault detection without human intervention. Data collected is streamed to a remote control center, though the robots can function autonomously if communication is lost. This innovation follows China’s broader push toward fully automated “dark” factories and infrastructure, aiming to reduce maintenance costs and improve safety in challenging environments. DEEP Robotics showcased the X30’s capabilities at the 202
robotIoTenergyrenewable-energywind-farmautonomous-robotssmart-sensorsGermany starts work on 1.6GW offshore wind farm for 1.6 million homes
Germany has commenced construction on the Nordseecluster offshore wind farm, a major renewable energy project expected to generate 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of power, sufficient to supply approximately 1.6 million homes. The first turbine foundation was successfully installed north of Juist Island in the North Sea by RWE Offshore Wind, a leading German energy company specializing in offshore wind development. The project features innovative engineering, using extended single-monopile foundations without separate transition pieces, which streamlines installation and reduces steel usage, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. The Nordseecluster will be developed in two phases: Nordseecluster A, with a capacity of 660 megawatts (MW), is scheduled to begin commercial operations in early 2027 following turbine installations starting in 2026; Nordseecluster B will add 900 MW through 60 turbines, targeting completion by early 2029. RWE Offshore Wind holds a 51% stake and manages the project lifecycle, while Norges Bank Investment
energyoffshore-windrenewable-energywind-farmturbine-foundationclean-energyGermany-energy-projectsWest Virginia To Host A 335 Megawatt Wind Farm
The article discusses the development of a new 335-megawatt wind farm in West Virginia, a state historically dominated by coal mining, particularly mountaintop removal mining—a practice that has caused significant environmental damage. Despite President Trump’s vocal opposition to wind turbines, citing concerns about natural landscapes and the reliability of wind and solar energy, wind power projects in West Virginia have been steadily advancing. Since 2002, the state has established eight utility-scale wind farms totaling 856 megawatts, demonstrating a growing renewable energy presence even within a coal-centric economy. A notable trend in West Virginia’s wind industry is the repowering of older wind farms to improve efficiency and capacity. For example, Clearway Energy Group upgraded the Pinnacle Wind Farm, increasing its capacity by 16% without adding more turbines. More significantly, Clearway has entered a power purchase agreement with Microsoft to repower the Mount Storm wind farm in Grant County, aiming to enhance its output with American-made turbines from Vestas. This
energywind-farmrenewable-energyWest-Virginiapower-generationclean-energywind-turbinesHiệu ứng bí ẩn đe dọa trang trại điện gió
energywind-farmrenewable-energyoffshore-windenergy-productionclimate-goalswind-theft